Some of this will be a repeat of the last post, however, I hope to build upon it as I am discovering my new foundation.

1. My new ministry seems to be with children, and not with music...At least not much music. I am continuing my work with the 2 year olds, but that has expanded. Last week, I lead the teaching time and worship for the 2-6 year olds. I feel good about it, and I had a blast. It was great to see them participating, especially the 2 year olds. They were so sweet! They all sang with me, and it was evident that God was speaking through me. I hope that he will continue to do so. :)

2. I am a bit disappointed, but am determined to let God work here. Adam (the leader of the Kid's Rock band that I was supposed to be a part of) spoke with me and said that he does not see a place for me in the band. At least not a full time part. When I was told that he wanted to get the group cohesive before adding me, I wondered if that would happen. I am excited that I am working in the production area on soundboard. Last week was a bit rough, but was not bad. I will not make the same mistakes again. I think I will make my own tracking sheet for this so that I can keep track of what is going on.

3. Celeste and I are part of a group that is doing our own version of "The Biggest Loser." I am making improvements weekly, and hope that I will soon see my weight dip below 300 for the first time in quite a while. We are currently working on removing sugar from our diet. That is quite difficult. She suspects that my system is overly alkaline, I suspect the opposite. I have some symptoms of both. Currently I am trying to check my pH using Litmus strips. We shall see!

4. My relationship with God is different, and yet frustratingly the same. I want to be reading more, but find that my time is limited. I have to be more disciplined, that has always been a shortcoming of mine, and it is proving to be a frustration now.

I begin to ponder what love is like and if I will ever find a person to truly love. Do I care for myself enough to expand that to someone else? I am working on it. :) I like myself better than I ever have in the past. I feel a peace that I have never felt before (this is a result of the conference last weekend), and I hope that I will be able to use this time as a new foundation for who I will become.

I am curious what God has for me and how these new directions will change me going forward. I hope that I will continue to grow in HIm and that I can somehow get rid of the things in my life that hinder my service of God. This will all take time, and my patience (though growing greatly) is still pushed and I wish things could happen faster.

We shall see where this goes.

Kyeta

KABOOM!!!

That sound you just heard was of my mind exploding.

I have been in Austin for 3 months, and it seems that God is set against my keeping anything recognizable in my life. THank God! Even my ministry has changed.

This weekend I am attending the National Youth workers convention. I cannot explain all that God has already done for me here. It seems that every time someone prays for me, they are saying the things that are exactly relevant to what I have been struggling with inside. I have cried 14 times already (ok 2 of those were at home) and one of them was a doozie. God has opened my heart and is changing my mind as I attend this seemingly innocuous conference. God has already broken me down and released things I have been fighting with for a long time.

I feel as if I have been around these people for years, and the conference started 2 days ago for me. If I was "whelmed" before (is whelmed a word? Overwhelmed is...) I am overwhelmed with God. His presence has been more real to me here than it has ever been before in my life. I am eternally greatful. I realize that this mountaintop experience cannot stay, but I hope to learn how to worship our Father in the valleys.

Someone in my Critical Concerns course said "Have you ever looked at the mountaintops? THey are bare. Look now into the valleys, they are green and lush. This is because things grow in the valley." So the hardest times produce the most growth. I have heard that for a long time, but I don't think I have ever heard so clear an example.

Praise be to God my father,
may I continue to worship Him and learn from HIm daily..

Christa